Mentoring and Developmental Networks in Faculty Careers Early

Mentoring and Developmental Networks in Faculty Careers Early Career Faculty Development Program Prof. Kathy E. Kram February 7, 2011 Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Agenda § What is Mentoring? What are Developmental Networks? § What are the potential benefits and risks? § What are the complexities of cross-gender, interracial, and cross-cultural relationships? § How does the organizational context shape relationships? § How can you leverage relationships for your development? Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

What is Mentoring? What does it look like in today’s context? Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Original Definition: § …a partnership between junior and senior professionals that exists to support the learning and advancement of the junior person. § …. developmental support includes Career Functions and Psychosocial Functions § …both individuals derive benefits from the relationship. Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Content of Help Career Psychosocial Advocacy Role modeling Coaching Counseling Exposure and Visibility Acceptance and confirmation Protection Friendship Challenging Assignments Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

“Hard” Benefits of Mentoring Relationships ü More career opportunities ü Greater ü Higher ü Less recognition and visibility promotion rates and pay likelihood of leaving the organization Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

“Soft” Benefits of Mentoring Relationships ü Enhanced work satisfaction ü Greater clarity of professional identity ü Higher career-related self-efficacy ü Greater perceptions of career success ü Enhanced relational skills Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Past and Present Conceptualizations of Mentoring* Traditional Mentoring Perspective Developmental Network Perspective ü Hierarchical ü Single, dyadic relationship ü Intraorganizational ü Multilevel ü Multiple dyadic, networked relationships ü Intraorganizational and Extraorganizational * Reconceptualizing Mentoring at Work: A Developmental Network Perspective Academy of Management Review, Higgins & Kram, April 2001 Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Developmental Network Senior Scholars Leaders Personal Support System Professional Associations FOCAL Peer(s) Graduate Assistants Students Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Developers Provide Varying Types & Amounts of Support Mentor Career Support High Psychosocial Support High Sponsor High Low Friend Low High Ally Low Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Structure of the Network Low Range High Range community professional association employer school family you Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Practical Implications of the DN Perspective § Developmental network perspective challenges the idea that there is one perfect mentor to “find” § DNQ offers a way to clarify who/how one receives developmental support at different points in a career § Raises questions: What is missing? What needs to change? § When it comes to mentoring and developmental networks, one size does NOT fit all § Consider: a) personal goals and b) career context § Places the notion of “self-assessment” in a relational context and points to relationships as an area of inquiry Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Obstacles to Effective Mentoring What are the risks? Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Fusing. Boston the ART, © Simmons School of Management, MASCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Obstacles to Successful Relationships § § § Time pressure Unclear or unrealistic expectations Poor interpersonal skills Difficulty managing negative feedback Managing differences § § nationality gender race Organizational context § § politics change Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Complexities of Diverse Relationships § § § Limits of Role Modeling Collusion in Stereotypes Public Scrutiny Peer Resentment Concerns about Intimacy and Rapport ------------Antidotes: Make complexities discussible Dual Support; Multiple relationships Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

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The Dark Side of Mentoring § § § § Superficial Interactions Unmet Expectations Jealousy Sabotage Betrayal Overdependence Negative Interactions Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Reflection……. In small discussion groups: 1. What are your expectations for this relationship? 2. What do you bring to your relationship? 3. What concerns do you have about moving forward? Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Necessary Skills for Effective Mentoring What Makes High Quality Connections Possible? Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Continuum of Mentoring Relationships (Ragins & Verbos, 2007) Dysfunctional Traditional Relational Perceived Quality: Low Medium High Behaviors: Negative or Dysfunctional Career Development & Psychosocial Support for Protégé Career Development, Psychosocial Support for both Relational Behaviors Outcomes: Negative One-sided; Instrumental Close Mentoring Bonds Mutual learning/growth Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

High Quality Connections (HQCs) are…. ……. interdependent and generative relationships that promote mutual growth, learning, and development within the career context. Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Emotional Competence Helps. Hig Quality Connections § Self-Awareness § Self-Management § Empathy § Social Skills Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Essential Relational Skills 1. Curiosity 2. Questioning 3. Deep listening 4. Self management 5. Accountability Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

2. Questioning § Open ended § Exploratory § Non-judgmental § Not leading § No right answers Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Outcomes of Growth Enhancing Relationships § § § Zest (increased energy and vitality) Empowered Action Increased Self Worth New Knowledge and Skills Desire for More Connection Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Relational Savvy (Dawn Chandler, 2006) ………includes the attitudes, skills, and behaviors that enable individuals to effectively enlist others in their learning and development. Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Good Questions to Ask 1. What do you want? 2. How are you responsible for this situation? 3. If you knew you could not fail, what would you do? 4. What are you afraid of? 5. If you knew the answer, what would it be? 6. What is hardest or most challenging about this situation? 7. What positive impacts accrue to you from this action or perspective? 8. What will you say “no” to in order to say “yes”? 9. What do you notice in your body right now? 10. What do you know to be true? 11. How are you getting in your own way? 12. What else? Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

What are the practical implications? What are the lessons learned? Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Strategies to Improve the Quality of Relationships with Developers § Know your developmental needs § Have realistic expectations § § Make explicit how your mentor or peer can assist your learning and development Find opportunities to discuss both the technical and personal aspects of your work Do not discount peers and subordinates as potential sources of developmental support Avoid extreme compartmentalizing of your life Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Strategies to Improve the Quality of Your Mentoring Efforts § § § Become aware of how you might learn from mentees Combine counseling and coaching Take the responsibility to make differences discussible Expect and invite questioning of your views and advice Follow-up on difficult conversations Anticipate that the mentee’s developmental needs will change § Develop a diverse network of peer relationships Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Key Take-Aways § § § § Use a Developmental Network Approach Model relational learning for others Assess talent development needs Assess current practices Experiment, evaluate, and redesign Engage and reward others Build a culture of learning through relationships Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.

Questions and Comments? Fusing the ART, SCIENCE, and TECHNOLOGY of Business.